Shloka 24

Durgātitaraṇa—Conduct for Crossing Difficulties (दुर्गातितरणम्)

Devanagari script

ईश्वर सर्वभूतानां जगत: प्रभवाप्ययम्‌ । भक्ता नारायणं देवं॑ दुर्गाण्यतितरन्ति ते

Transliteration

īśvaraḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ jagataḥ prabhavāpyayam | bhaktā nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁ durgāṇy atitaranti te |

Translation

毗湿摩言：那罗延为一切众生之主，亦是世界生起与归灭之本源。凡以虔诚信心归依彼神圣那罗延者，皆能超越最难渡之苦厄与险难。

Word by Word

• ईश्वरः: Lord, ruler
• ईश्वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वभूतानाम्: of all beings
• सर्वभूतानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वभूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• प्रभव: origin, arising
• प्रभव: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अप्ययम्: dissolution, passing away
• अप्ययम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्यय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भक्ताः: devotees
• भक्ताः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नारायणम्: Narayana
• नारायणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• देवम्: god, deity
• देवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दुर्गाणि: difficulties, hardships
• दुर्गाणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• अतितरन्ति: they cross over, overcome
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति-तॄ
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ते: they, those
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Narayana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that Narayana is the supreme Lord who is both the origin and dissolution of the cosmos, and that steadfast devotion to him enables one to transcend severe hardships and existential suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on dharma and the means to peace; here he emphasizes devotion to Narayana as a reliable refuge that carries devotees through peril and distress.